Electromagnetic treatment of water

ABSTRACT

A process and an apparatus for treating water which comprises decomposing the minerals dissolved in the water into cations comprising ferromagnetic, paramagnetic and residual particles, and disaggregating the cations and anions by utilizing ferromagnetic particles as a temporary mobile anode facing a strong cathode and paramagnetic particles as a weak cathode. The disaggregated minerals form a dielectric layer on the strong cathode, which is extracted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes the electromagnetic properties ofelectric currents for the conditioning and demineralization of water.

Apparatuses utilizing the passage of an electric current between twoelectrodes submerged in water can be grouped in three families:

1. Those which utilize electricity with a voltage which allows forcomplete electrolysis (9 volts and higher) and generally by cyclicaldischarge;

2. Those which utilize electricity with a voltage less than 3 voltswhich allow for only a partial electrolysis with formation of apolarization layer on the cathode, generally in continuous current; inthese two families the anode absorbs the electrons transported byelectrophoresis and the electrification by influence, which interfereswith the effect sought;

3. The electrodialysis process which utilizes the migration of positiveions across a C type membrane and the migration of negative ions acrossa type A membrane under the influence of a continuous voltage betweentwo electrodes. This process runs into substantial difficulties; themembranes allow ions to pass which they should stop, their electricalresistance and the polarization increase the consumption of energy, thedeposits of salts, and the living organisms are disruptive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The process and apparatus according to the invention are based upon theapparatus explained in the application filed in France under No. 8413233 and compliments it in such a way as to obtain a more or lessforced demineralization without utilization of C or A type membranes.

The invention differs from existing processes in that a difference ofelectrical potential of less than 3 volts established between an electrodenominated "strong cathode" and an electrode denominated "weak cathode"fed by two simultaneous electrical currents, continuous or impulsive, inopposite directions and of different voltages. The choice of thevoltages determines the difference of potential sought between thestrong cathode and the weak cathode corresponding to a salt contained inthe water, calcium carbonate for example.

The system is maintained at the selected voltage by a stabilizer. Acurrent of electrons flows from the strong cathode to the weak cathodeacting as an anode, limited by the opposition of the inverse voltage.This current engenders an electromagnetic field acting on the saltscontained in the water which traverses the treatment chamber, otherwisedenominated ionization and neutralization chamber. For a betterunderstanding, we look to the case of the hydrogen carbonate or calciumCa(H C O₃) which is subjected to the action of the electromagnetic fieldand decomposes into calcium carbonate (Ca C O₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂),hydrogen and hydroxyl OH. The potential of the forming Ca CO₃ particlesis less than that of the weak cathode and at greater rate than that ofthe strong cathode: the forming Ca CO₃ particles are in the anodeposition vis-a-vis the electrodes of the apparatus. The Ca CO₃ particleswhich are forming are directed towards the strong cathode and are sloweddown in their displacement by the attraction of the weak cathode. Thetotality of the Ca CO₃ particles which are forming constitute within thewater a "temporary anode". A calcareous covering forms on the strongcathode. One interposes a supplemental handicap to the passage of thecurrent by means of a static resistance which has for effect to lowerthe potential difference between the electrodes and to promote theformation and thickening of the polerization layer. The Ca CO₃ is saidto be neutral and the calcareous covering constitutes a dieletric inrelation to its thickness. The electromagnetic waves which traverse thedieletric covering accentuate the excitation of the peripheral electronsof the Ca CO₃ particles and their friction. This excitation is maximumat the internal surface of the covering. The difference in potentialrises as a function of the thickness and the excitation of the dieletriclayer. At the optimum value, this layer stops growing: the process is inequilibrium. The process continues with the electrification by influenceand excitation of the Ca CO₃ particles on the covering, as long as thereis a presence of Ca (H CO₃)2 corresponding to intermittent or continuouspassages of the water. When the presence of Ca (H CO₃)2 is very reducedor nonexistent, the maximum excitation of the dieletric layer ismaintained by the passage of electromagnetic waves and theelectrification of the weak cathode acts as an anode, with a stabilizedpotential difference.

When the dieletric calcareous layer is formed, the apparatus acts as anelectrilitic condenser and the best results are obtained when one of theelectrodes completely surrounds the other. By our invention, thetreatment of the mineralization is 100% obtained with a time of passageof a quantity of water in the apparatus included between 10 and 180seconds and an extremely reduced electric consumption. The potentialselected and communicated to the micro crystals formed allows for analkalinization of the water observed during out tests, by an increase ofsmall pH of 3-4/10 and a remarkable foam ability.

The associations of microcrystals which form on the dieletric layer arelasting in time after several days and numerous passages in a heatexchanger. Their excitation by the heat waves is accelerated and rapidlyadapts precisely to the heat received so as not to rest on the hot wallthus constituting only a very fine film which does not disrupt heatexchange. On the walls covered with scales, this very film communicatesits excitation to the subjacent layer which disagregates when it adaptsto the energy source. Finally, the criteria of potability, the hygienicvalue and the mineralization of the water are preserved by thisconditioning. But it often occurs that to be usable or reusable, thewater must be completely or partially demineralized and that, in thecase of a partial demineralization, the remaining mineralization must beconditioned to avoid the disadvantages of the incrustation and also toconfer to the comfort of an excellent foamability. To obtain ademineralization it is necessary to proceed to the decomposition of theacids, bases and salts contained in the water, and positive and negativeions to sequester and to evacuate.

The apparatus is the following: the strong cathode is the metallic wall,bottom included, of a treatment container of cylindrical form. The weakcathode is constituted by a cylindrical grill situated in the axis ofthe container and insulated from this latter one. An electricallyinsulated metallic anode occupies the axis of the container. The entireprocess of conditioning previously described reproduces itself betweenthe strong and weak cathodes with continuous currents. The centralinsulated anode is connected directly to the positive pole of thegenerator feeding the strong cathode. The potential difference betweenthe insulated anode and the strong cathode and weak cathodes can thus beconsiderably greater than 3 volts. It is known that the particles areferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic. The transports of electronsfrom the strong cathode to the weak cathode act as anode produced byelectrophoresis by means of cations which are ferromagnetic ordiamagnetic and are pushed towards the strong cathode. The anions (acidradicals) are diamagnetic and concentrate themselves on the insulatedanodes. A non-conductive diaphragm, of cylindrical shape, bored withflow distribution holes at its upper portion, is interposed between theinsulated anode and the weak cathode, the treatment container beingdisposed vertically. The water to be treated flows between the strongcathode and weak cathode, at reduced speed. If one wishes to withdraw aportion of the acid radicals, it will suffice to proceed to a purge ofthe concentration of the central volume periodically or continuouslysending the partially demineralized water for use. Depending upon theextent of the purge flow one can withdraw all or part of the acidradicals. If the power of the deconcentration flow exceeds a certainvalue, the repulsion force of the power magnetic particles can beinsufficient and a portion of the latter can be caught up. One canobtain a higher concentration of the acid radicals by treating thevolume of the purges in one or more similar apparatuses of reduceddimension. In parallel and in an inverse function to the speed ofpassage of the water in the apparatus, the ferromagnetic andparamagnetic particles will form muds which are easy to purge. The waterfreed of the acid radicals containing the ferromagnetic and paramagneticmineralization can be treated again in a similar apparatus where adrainage in the central volume will give a water which is more or lesspurified depending upon the adjustment of the drain flow. In parallel aconcentration of the remaining mineralization will be obtained at thebase of the peripheral volume. A better concentration of thismineralization will be obtained by disposing a container of truncatedform, vertical, the major base on top, of a weak cathode grill likewiseof truncated form parallel to the wall of the container. In a generalfashion, the inlets and outlets of water are done tangentially. Otherforms and artifices can be employed for performing the process which isthe object of the invention. Finally, the waste can be neutralized bymixing acid and alkaline concentrations, which may even be dried for useas fillers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference tothe drawings attached hereto, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the electric circuit accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 discloses a simple strong cathode/weak cathode system accordingto the invention;

FIG. 3 discloses a strong cathode/weak cathode and anode systemaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 4 discloses a system similar to FIG. 3, however, different ingeometry.

These figures are cited illustratively for the comprehension and theperformance of the principle. Furthermore, the evolution of thetechniques in the domain of the electronic components brings us to nottake into account the exact detail of the electronic components used.However, so as to support the foundation of our observations and ourresearch, the explanatory drawing, FIG. 1, uses the nomenclature ofelectronic components which have served for assembly of the electriccircuit which has made possible our test and whose value is to be takenas being only for experimental purposes; only the principle remains andis usable whenever the evolution of the electronic techniques.

The apparatus comprises:

an electric console, FIG. 1, comprising an electric circuit (1)enclosing 2 reversed condensers (2) and (3), a voltage stabilizer (4), apotentiometer for adjustment of the stabilized voltage (7), a variableresistance (5) which resists the passage of currents, 2 resistors (6)and (8), a luminescent diode witness lamp (9). The circuit (1) isequipped with 3 connection terminals: the (10) for the strong cathodeconnection, the (11) for the weak cathode connection, the (12) for thelinakge with the anode utilized in the treatment situation shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

A treatment container comprising in all of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 anionization chamber (13) in which the water to be treated arrives (17)and whose outlet (18) is connected to the conventional feed system ofwater to be treated. The ionization chamber (13) relies upon the strongcathode and is connected to the reference terminal (10) of FIG. 1. Inthe case of FIG. 2 the ionization chamber (13) is traversed by a weakcathode (14) connected to the terminal (11) of FIG. 1. The strongterminal (13) is electrically insulated from the weak cathode (14).

A purge orifice completes the assembly (20).

In the case of FIG. 3, the reaction chamber (13) is traversed by acylindrical, bored weak cathode (grilled type) (14) electricallyinsulated from the strong cathode (13) and containing a non-conductiveslotted diaphragm (15) itself containing an electrically insulated anode(16). The assembly is completed by a purge (20) of the central volumeand by a purge (19) of the peripheral volume. In the case of FIG. 4, thearrangements are the same as in FIG. 3, only the geometrical shapesdiffer for the improvement of the hydraulic.

The possibilities of applications of the invention are immense in thefield of furnishing clean water for domestic use, collective use,industry, agriculture by extraction, addition or transformation of allor a portion of the mineralization contained in the water utilized.

What I claim is:
 1. Process for treating water so as to confer the waterwith anti-scale and greater foaming qualities by removing the mineralsdissolved therein, the process comprising:(a) decomposing the mineralsinto ferromagnetic particles, paramagnetic particles, and residualparticles in an ionization chamber comprising a first cathode and asecond cathode carrying a stronger negative charge than said firstcathode, said ferromagnetic particles and said paramagnetic particlesforming a temporary mobile anode; (b) depositing said ferromagneticparticles and said paramagnetic particles as a dielectric layer on saidsecond cathode; and (c) removing said dielectric layer formed on saidsecond cathode.
 2. The process as defined in claim 1, further comprisingadjusting a potential difference between said first cathode and saidsecond cathode to less than 3 volts by a voltage stabilizer, saidpotential difference corresponding to a potential in ratio with thenatural potential of one or more minerals to be treated.
 3. A processfor treating water by removing minerals dissolved therein, comprisingthe steps of:(a) passing an electric current through the water containedin an ionization chamber thereby decomposing the minerals dissolved inthe water into cations and anions, said cations comprising ferromagneticparticles, paramagnetic particles, and residual particles, saidionization chamber comprising a first cathode and a second cathodecarrying a stronger negative charge than said first cathode; (b)disaggregating said cations and said anions by utilizing saidferromagnetic particles and said paramagnetic particles as a temporarymobile anode facing said first cathode and said second cathode; (c)collecting said ferromagnetic and said paramagnetic particles as adielectric layer on said second cathode; and (d) removing saiddielectric layer formed on said second cathode.
 4. The process fortreating water as defined in claim 3, wherein a value of potentialdifference between said second cathode and said first cathode ismaintained at less than three volts and corresponds to the naturalpotential of at least one mineral being treated.
 5. The process fortreating water as defined in claim 4, wherein formation andstabilization of said dielectric layer is obtained by impeding passageof current by adjusting a variable resistance as a function of localconditions of the water, said conditions including nature andresistivity of the water.
 6. The process for treating water as definedin claim 5, wherein calcium carbonate may be added to obtain a desiredpH value of the water.
 7. An apparatus for treating water,comprising:(a) a strong cathode comprising an electrolytic container anda cylindrically-shaped weak cathode positioned along a central axis ofsaid electrolytic container; (b) an electrically insulated anodepositioned on said axis of said electrolytic container; (c) acylindrical diaphragm being positioned between said anode and said weakcathode; and (d) a direct current generator connected to said strongcathode and said anode.
 8. The apparatus for treating water as definedin claim 7, wherein said weak cathode is grilled.
 9. The apparatus fortreating water as defined in claim 7, wherein said electrolyticcontainer is cylindrical in shape.
 10. The apparatus for treating wateras defined in claim 7, wherein said electrolytic container is conical inshape.
 11. The apparatus for treating water as defined in claim 7,further comprising means for maintaining a potential difference value ofless than three volts between said strong cathode and said weak cathode.